2015 Book Swap

Right before we left for the holidays, we had our bi-annual Book Swap.  The week before the Book Swap, students turned in their gently used paperback children's books.  The following week they pick out their "new" books.  So exciting!

I have been doing Book Swaps for 3 years now and they are always a big hit. They are super easy to do with minimal set up and prep.  December is the perfect time to do a Book Swap because students can clear off their shelves to make room for some "new" books.  I also do a Book Swap in April after testing is over.  It's a fun little celebration of learning and makes "testing week" a little more bearable.

You can get a copy of my free Book Swap pack HERE.  It includes everything you need to do a Book Swap at your school.  Hope you enjoy!

Baby It's Cold Outside

It seems that winter has finally decided to make an appearance here in Georgia. The recent colder weather and the fact that I will have to set the alarm for the first time in 16 nights tonight brought to mind some winter items I have created in the past and thought I'd reshare them with you.

First, here are some cute winter signs to put up around your media center. This is a FREE download and includes both vertical and horizontal signs. Click HERE to download them from my Teacher's Dojo store.  I would appreciate your feedback if you download them.  =)

While you're on my Teacher's Dojo store, you may want to also download these FREE winter bookmarks that match the signs. Click HERE to download your copy now.  If you choose to download, I'd love to know what you thought of the freebie, so please leave a short feedback comment to let me know.  =)

If you like the free bookmark pack, but want more, there is a larger pack of 32 available for just $3.00. This pack includes 16 color and 16 black and white bookmarks for your friends to color.  Click HERE to see this product.

I have also created a couple of winter library centers to help teach/review shelf order and call numbers.

The call number sorting center includes

• 2 center signs (in both color and black and white to save ink) with options of 2 different ways to run the center
• 12 sorting cards (2 versions: one version with the FIC call number and one version with the F call number-both in color and black and white to save ink)
• Section labels (in both color and black and white; includes Easy, Everybody, and Everyone options for the E section)
• Game board (includes Easy, Everybody, and Everyone options for the E section)
• Answer sheets (in both color and black and white to save ink)
• Recording sheet (for second center option)

You can print the black and white center signs and sorting cards on colored cardstock or paper to save ink.  

If you have access to a poster printer, you should be able to print the game board to make it large enough for the game cards to be placed on.  If you don't have access to a poster printer, you can use the section label cards instead.

You can purchase this center for $3.00 in my Teacher's Dojo store by clicking HERE.

The Shelf Order Center includes

• 2 center signs (one in color and one in black and white to save ink)
• 3 sets (easy, average, and challenge levels) of cards for each of the following sections: E, FIC/ F, and Non-fiction (10-12 cards per set both in color and black and white to save ink)
• Recording sheet (2 per page to save ink)
• Answer sheets (2 per page and in both color and black and white to save ink)

As with the call number center, you can print the black and white center signs and call number cards on colored cardstock or paper to save ink.  Laminate for extra durability.

You can purchase this center for $5.00 in my Teacher's Dojo store by clicking HERE.

If these centers don't float your boat, maybe you can find some you will like in this Winter Centers Freebie.  This pack includes signs for seven centers.  Answer sheets for several of the centers are also provided.  NOTE: you will have to purchase some items for these centers.  You can read about these centers on THIS previous post.

The center signs included in this freebie are

• Winter Puzzles
• Create a Bookmark
• Pop Up Game
• Winter Words
• 4 in a Row
• I Spy
• Guess Who

To download the freebie, click HERE.  

This is a Google doc, so you will need to download it to save it.

If you have to go back to work tomorrow like I do, hopefully these fun winter items will make going back a little easier.  =)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, friends!

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to review some book care rules, and that is exactly what I will be doing with my kinder and firsties when we get back next week.

I use a fun PowerPoint I purchased on TpTs from The Library Fox.  You can purchase your copy HERE.  The first graders really went wild about it last year.  All I had to do after using this PowerPoint was say "Are you being a good library ninja?" and they immediately correct their behavior.

The set also comes with library ninja bookmarks, but I made my own bookmarks that reviews book care rules.  I pass these out at the end of our time together. You  can download these  HERE from my TpT store for free.

While some of my little ninjas are busy at the shelves, my other ninja friends are at their tables working on a review sheet about book care.  I made it be sort of a New Year's resolution type review.  You can download a copy of it HERE.

And if you'd rather have New Year's bookmarks, you can snag this 4 bookmark freebie in my Teacher's Dojo store HERE.

Or you can get a larger pack of 24  which includes 12 color and 12 black and white bookmarks for your friends to color for only $3.00 in my Teacher's Dojo store.  Click HERE to go there now.

Hope your 2016 is the best one yet!